Author
- Andrea Janes1
- South West Healthcare1
2018
Excerpt
For the past 17 years Andrea has been employed at SWH. Clinically, she worked for 10 years in the Medical/Palliative Care Inpatient Unit. In 2010 she became Assistant Director of Nursing. Andrea became the South West Healthcare (SWH) Nurse Consultant Coordinator of our South Western Regional Palliative Care Team in February 2015. Since then, Andrea has been responsible for strengthening both the palliative care team and the palliative care services provided throughout rural Victoria’s southwest region to enhance patient and carer engagement, and further develop partnerships with consumers and key stakeholders.
Abstract
Author: Andrea Janes
Identifying that rural patients and carers are often more isolated than those in regional areas, SWH embarked on an expansion of the already proven and successful volunteer service model. Utilising the power of social media, local newspaper and radio, SWH reached out to the local communities within the three LGAs to expand the service. Incredibly, over 60 people contacted the service to express an interest in volunteering.
Traditionally, volunteers only provided home support to patients residing in Warrnambool City (approximately 45% of patients at any one time). This expansion now allows any patient registered with SWH’s Palliative Care Team to have access to volunteer support, regardless of patient location (100% of patients).
Not only does every patient have access to the volunteer program, but the recruitment has also provided the opportunity for the service to expand its frequency of visits within the home environment. Traditionally, patients were allocated only one volunteer for support weekly. However patients and carers now have access to multiple volunteers and increased frequency of support. Not only does this provide more support for rural patients and carers, it also provides peer support for the volunteers of the palliative care program.
Abstract
Author: Andrea Janes
Identifying that rural patients and carers are often more isolated than those in regional areas, SWH embarked on an expansion of the already proven and successful volunteer service model. Utilising the power of social media, local newspaper and radio, SWH reached out to the local communities within the three LGAs to expand the service. Incredibly, over 60 people contacted the service to express an interest in volunteering.
Traditionally, volunteers only provided home support to patients residing in Warrnambool City (approximately 45% of patients at any one time). This expansion now allows any patient registered with SWH’s Palliative Care Team to have access to volunteer support, regardless of patient location (100% of patients).
Not only does every patient have access to the volunteer program, but the recruitment has also provided the opportunity for the service to expand its frequency of visits within the home environment. Traditionally, patients were allocated only one volunteer for support weekly. However patients and carers now have access to multiple volunteers and increased frequency of support. Not only does this provide more support for rural patients and carers, it also provides peer support for the volunteers of the palliative care program.